Maranacook Lake Association

10/16/2026

Are you aware of the shoreland restrictions for tree and vegetation removal?

The shoreland or buffer zone defined as the first 100’ of lake or pond from the normal high-water line and 75’ from the normal high-water line or the upland edge of a wetland or stream. Please see the attached link for complete list of all restrictions and definitions.

FAQ’s
“Is the cutting of vegetation less than 2” in diameter limited”
YES, if removal of vegetation less than 2” will create cleared openings enough vegetation must be retained to prevent the creation of such openings. Also if 5 saplings less than 2” do not exist in a 25’x50’ plot, no woody stems less than 2” can be removed until 5 saplings are recruited into the plot. Furthermore, in order to protect water quality, vegetation less than 3’ in height and other ground cover must be maintained within the buffer.

“May I prune trees within the buffer strip?”
YES, pruning of tree branches, in the bottom third of the tree is permitted. Dead branches are permitted to be pruned without restriction.

“What if a cleared opening is created in a buffer due storm damage, disease or the removal of an unsafe tree?”

“When removal of storm damaged, hazard or dead trees results in a cleared opening, the opening must be replanted with native tree species, unless existing new tree growth is present.”

There are numerous other regulations that address clear cutting and pathways etc, please refer to the link below for more information, or reach out to your Code Enforcement office for guidance.

https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/slz/ip-szveg.html

10/15/2026

Great advice from Lake Stewards of Maine! Get informed and be involved in protecting our resources!

💙 Imagine a Day Without Water. It's easy to take water for granted when we live in a state filled with lakes, rivers, and streams. But what would our lives look like without clean, clear healthy freshwater?

Let’s protect the resource that sustains us every day and take action for Imagine a Day Without Water tomorrow, October 15! 📆💙

Here are five ways you can help protect Maine’s lakes:
💧 Learn about your lake. Understand the factors that affect lake health and water quality.
🌿 Help prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Clean, drain, and dry boats and equipment between waterbodies.
🌊 Get involved in lake monitoring. Learn how volunteer community scientists help track lake health.
🌾 Protect water quality. Reduce runoff by limiting fertilizer use, maintaining vegetated shorelines, and managing erosion.
🤝 Support local lake stewardship. Connect with a local lake association or learn about volunteering with Lake Stewards of Maine.

10/14/2026

Hey!!! Where are you going?

Maine loons spend their winters along the Atlantic coast, migrating to coastal bays, coves, and the mouths of coastal rivers as well as to areas up to 60 miles offshore. These birds move to saltwater to escape the freezing of their northern freshwater lakes and will remain there until the ice begins to break up in the spring.

https://extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons/indicator-species/loon-fact-sheet/

10/12/2026

Ospreys from Maine migrate to Central and South America—including countries like Venezuela—and parts of the Caribbean and southern Florida for the winter.

Migration Timeline & Facts
* Departure: They leave Maine starting in late August through October, once freezing local waters make it hard to catch fish.
* Distance: They fly anywhere from 1,500 to over 3,000 miles south.
* Return: They fly back north to rebuild and use the same nests in late March or April.

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Remain vigilant!!!

The busy Summer season is over... but aquatic invasive plants don't abide by calendars. 🗓️🚫

🌊Regardless of the activity, entering and exiting a water body can pose a risk of invasive aquatic species infestation. With summer being over, many boat launches are not monitored by Courtesy Boat Inspectors after Labor Day. You are the last line of defense against the introduction of an aquatic invader.🛶🛑

✨This is your reminder to continue to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY your boat when utilizing our water bodies in Maine.🛥️

🚿Clean: Wash your boat and gear with hot, pressurized, or low percentage bleach-water mixture, ensuring all mud, debris, and plant material is no longer attached.
🪣Drain: Drain all water-holding compartments AWAY from the water body; bilge, live well, motor, and any other. Dispose of all unwanted bait in the trash.
💨Dry: Use a towel to wipe down your boat and gear, or let sit to dry for at least 5 days.

ℹ️For a detailed protocol and more information on WHY we Clean, Drain, Dry, please visit this webpage US Fish & Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/story/clean-drain-dry
Photo courtesy of Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

10/09/2026

Do you know your 💩?

Why Dog P**p Harms Lakes:
1) Nutrient overload: Commercial dog food contains heavy, concentrated amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus sourced from outside the local watershed. When washed into a lake, these nutrients trigger massive algae blooms.
2) Oxygen depletion: As the dog waste and resulting algae break down, they use up dissolved oxygen in the water, which can suffocate and kill fish.
3) Dangerous bacteria and parasites: Dog waste carries high levels of harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia, and roundworms. These make water unsafe for swimming, boating, and drinking.
4) Concentrated impact: Unlike wild animals, dogs are walked in large, concentrated numbers along popular shorelines and trails, overwhelming the soil and storm drains.

Why Wildlife P**p is Natural:
1) Closed-loop system: Wild animals eat local plants, insects, and other animals. They return those exact local nutrients back to the same environment.
2) Seed dispersal: Wild animal waste helps spread seeds and fertilize native plants.
3) Low concentration: Wildlife s**t is s**ttered thinly across wide territories rather than piling up in high-traffic areas.

Dog p**p harms lake water quality and aquatic life, while wildlife p**p is a natural part of a balanced ecosystem.

10/08/2026

Thank you Watershed Friends for your vigilance and commitment to controlling the spread of Aquatic Invasives!

Another CBI season has come to an end, and this season inspectors completed over 13,000 inspections! Thank you to all of our CBIs, both paid and volunteer, for helping to make this another great season!

10/07/2026

Wayback Wednesday!!!

Tallwood Resort was a historic 20th-century resort destination located on the Tallwood Peninsula (Tallwood Point) along Maranacook Lake in Winthrop.

History and Evolution: The property began developing in the late 19th century when a three-story hotel named the Sir Charles (later known as the Tallwood Inn) was built on the peninsula.
Heyday: During the 1930s and 1940s, Tallwood Resort operated as a popular summer recreational spot featuring lakeside cottages, an inn, a restaurant, and a motion picture pavilion.
Decline & Changes: The resort structures suffered major damage during a severe wind storm in 1948, and portions of the original inn and surrounding buildings were torn down or transitioned into private ownership over subsequent decades.

10/06/2026

The Town of Winthrop’s boat slips and dock at Norcross Point will be removed for the season during the week of October 13. All boats must be removed from the docks by Sunday, October 12.

Please plan accordingly so the docks are clear before seasonal removal begins. Thank you for another great boating season at Norcross Point!